Improvement in weights for horseshoes



W. NEELY, Jr. Weight for Horseshoes.

Patented Sept. 23, 1879.

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NJEIERSy FHOTILUTHUGRAPHER. WASNINGYON. D Cv' UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

WILLIAM NEELY, JR., OF SEWIOKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WEIGHT-S FOR HORSESHOES.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 219,973, datedSeptember 23, 1879; application tiled February 24, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM NEELY, Jr., of Sewickley, county ofAllegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a new anduseful Improvement in Weights for Horseshoes; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a partof this specification, in whichlike letters indicating like parts-Figure lis a perspective view of a horseshoe having weights attachedthereto illustrative of my invention; and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionalview of the same, taken through the center of the front or toe weight.

My invention relates to weights for horseshoes 5 and consists in animproved construction and means of attachment of the weight to the shoe.

It has been customary heretofore to attach weights to horseshoes bymeans of screw-bolts passing through the weights, and screwing eitherinto the body of the shoe, or into a clip or tang extending up or outfrom the shoe.

Several objections attend such screw-bolt attachments, among which isthe rapid cutting or wearing away of the threads by dust, sand, or grit,so as practically to destroy such threads in a short time; also, whenthe weights are removed, the threaded hole in the tang or shoe becomeschoked .with dirt, which it is often difficult to remove from thethreads, so as to allow the bolt toA be screwed in; also, suchscrew-bolts are apt to become loosened by the severe jar incident to theusual useof such de- Vices; also, the bolt being unconnected with theweight, the two are liable to become separated and lost; and, also, thetime required to screw up or unscrew such bolts is often vexations andannoying, especially when a horse is restive.

These objections I effectnally obviate by my improved weight, which isconstructed and secured as follows: Atang or clip, s, is extended upfrom the outer edge of the shoe S in the desired position of the weight,and, by preference, in such direction as to lie against or near to thesurface of the hoof of the horse. This tang or clip is tapered in widthtoward the top, and is also shaped to a dovetail form in cross-section,with the narrow face adjacent to the hoof. n

The weight A is made of any desired heft, and preferably with the innerface curved or shaped approximately to the form ofthe hoof, and theouter face or surface rounded, as shown, so as to avoid sharp or cuttingangles. Across the inner face is made atapering dovetail groove, c,corresponding to the tang or clip s, and adapted to receive the tang orslip down upon it to the desired position.

The dovetail and tapering form of the tang and groove will hold theweight uponthe tang as against removal in any direction except upward,or that from which it is slipped on; and

to prevent such upward removal, except when desired, I make use of abolt, c, which has a stem, c', passing through a chamber, e, in theweight, and through the outer shell or rim, r.

A nut or head, fi, is secured to the projecting end of the stem whichconnects the bolt to the weight, but leaves the bolt free to moveendwise within the chamber.

A spiral spring, e', is arranged around the stem c', one end of whichrests against the rim r, and the other end against the rear end of thebolt or head c.

The arrangement and adjustment of these devices are such that when theweight is slipped onto the tang and is in place, the spring e' willthrow the bolt, so that its projecting end c will enter or pass througha hole, s', made through the tang in the proper place. y

To remove the weight the head i may be grappled with any suitableimplement,vor av knife-blade may be passed between the head and theweight, and the bolt drawn back out of the hole s', when the weight maybe slipped upward and oi the tang.

The strain upon the bolt c is very slight and only in one direction, andthe spring e' may be made comparatively light, and still suice to holdthe bolt in the hole s until intentionally drawn back.

The bolt c automatically locks or secures the weight when it is slippedin place, andhaving a smooth surface, it is relieved from the objectionsattending a threaded surface. The several parts being fitted neatly,dirt or dust will be excluded from the chamber e.

The head t' may be screwed to the end of taken apart theweightand kboltcannot become `arranged over the toe or at the sides of the' Clip of ahorseshoe by means of a spring-actl 11a-ted device, whereby the weightis made re- Lsuch combination in its broad sense.

- theshoe and weight, the latter having acorthe stem c', so that thedevices maybe readily removed, if desired;- .but unless intentionallyseparated and the parts lost.l Weights of different heft and form maybe. arranged to slip onto the same. tang, or such Weights may be Shoe,or at other points, as desired.`

I am. aware that, broadlyconsiderethit is not new to attach a weight tothe standard' or 1 movable, .and hence I make no claim herein to Neitherdo I claim,broadly,the combination of a tapering dovetaileshaped clip ortang with respnndinglydovetail and faperin g slot,A whereby the weightmay be held withouty the aid of auxiliary fastenings, since intheconstruction of my device auxiliary fastenings of some sortl areessential.

Ifclaim herein as my invention- 1. In combination witha horseshoe, atang or clip, s, having a hole, `s', through the same,

yand having a dovetailform in cross-section, a

in combination with a bolt, c c",`and spiral springe', arranged in suchchamber, substam-l f tially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand.'

WILLIAMNEELY, JR.

` Witnesses ACLMJDnUs L. PARKER,

GEORGE H. WOODS.

